A 21-year-old Tucson man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on several charges related to the creation and distribution of child-porn and animal abuse content online, authorities say.
Baron Cain Martin, 21, known online as “Convict†(among other monikers), was allegedly the leader '764,' a violent extremist network. Martin has been in federal custody since his December 2024 arrest, the US Department of Justice in Phoenix said in a news release.
A superseding federal indictment accuses him of charges that include creation and distribution of an exploitation enterprise; conspiring to kill, kidnap or maim persons in a foreign country; producing and distributing child pornography; coercing and enticing minors to engage in sexual activity; cyberstalking; producing and distributing animal crushing videos; and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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“This man’s alleged crimes are unthinkably depraved and reflect the horrific danger of 764 — if convicted, he will face severe consequences as we work to dismantle this evil network,†Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in the news release. “I urge parents to remain vigilant about the threats their children face online.â€
Martin is a member and leader of “764,†a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs) operating in the U.S. and abroad, the release said, citing court documents. The group targets vulnerable children on social media and encourages the possession, production and sharing of extreme gore and child sexual abuse material, the release said.
The superseding indictment alleges that Martin coerced multiple victims into creating child pornography, extortion videos and animal crushing videos. Martin also wrote a detailed guide that was posted online detailing how to identify, groom, and extort vulnerable juveniles. And he advised readers to target victims struggling with mental health, the release said.
The superseding indictment also accuses Martin of providing material support to terrorists by providing himself as personnel, services and expert advice or assistance to carry out a conspiracy to kill or maim a person in a foreign country. In September 2022, Martin conspired with others to coerce and direct a victim living outside the United States to self-harm, self-maim, and self-kill, the release said.
In total, the superseding indictment alleges Martin victimized at least nine victims. Eight of Martin’s victims were minors at the time he committed the offenses, and their ages were between the ages of 11 and 15 years old, the release said.
Martin is alleged to have also engaged in animal crushing and of distributing animal crush videos to 764 members.
If convicted, Martin faces up to life in prison on several of the counts.
The FBI is investigating the case.
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